Canon the Mother of God at Compline
Tone 1 – Thursday

Ode I, Irmos.

Having escaped cruel bondage, Israel passed through the impassable sea as upon dry land; and beholding the enemy overwhelmed, he singeth with gladness a song unto God, Who worketh wonders with His uplifted arm, for He hath been glorified.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Being held fast by despair, I ponder the multitude of my transgressions and the accounting before the Judge. O Lady Theotokos, be thou my divine intercessor, turning His judgment to mercy by thy compassion.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

O refuge of Christians, restoration of the fallen and cleansing of sinners, O most pure one, deliver me from the dread fire and from the unquenchable flame, granting me eternal life.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

We faithful have acquired thee alone, O Virgin, as our steadfast protectress, for thou hast given birth unto God. Therefore all generations of those born of earth, according to thy word, call thee blessed with praises, O pure one.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Beholding upon the Cross her Creator and Son, the pure Virgin, O all-immaculate one, was filled with amazement, saying: What is this, O Child? How have the ungodly repaid Thee with evil for the good which Thou hast shown unto them?

Ode III, Irmos.

Unto Christ God, the Son begotten incorruptibly of the Father before the ages, and in the latter days incarnate of the Virgin without seed, let us cry: O Thou Who hast exalted our horn, holy art Thou, O Lord.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

All the prophets proclaimed thee to be the Mother of God through most glorious images; and we, clearly beholding their fulfillment, believe, and beseech thee that through thee we may obtain divine tranquility.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

O Lady of the world, salvation and intercession of the faithful, deliver and save me, who am bound by many transgressions, as I send forth groanings from the depths of my heart, O pure one, and streams of tears.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having boldness before Christ God as His Mother, O pure one, entreat Him that we may be delivered from the children of Hagar and from every harm; and establish us, O all-immaculate one, that we may glorify Him with thanksgiving.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Beholding her Son lifted up upon the Cross, she cried aloud, and in the anguish of her heart exclaimed, saying: O Son, what have the ungodly and lawless done unto Thee, who have been filled with Thy gifts?

Ode IV, Irmos.

A rod from the root of Jesse, and a flower from him, O Christ, hast Thou sprung forth from the Virgin; from the praised and overshadowed mountain Thou hast come, having become incarnate of her who knew not wedlock, O Bodiless God. Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Cast down the fierceness of the wicked enemies, and the treacheries which they bring against me; and clothe me with thy strength, O all-immaculate one, ever preserving me unharmed, whole and unshaken, who hymn thee with radiance.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Being overcome by the law of the flesh, I work unseemly deeds of lawlessness, full of every passion, and dare not in any wise lift up mine eye unto thee, O pure Lady. But by the law of thy mercy save me, the wretched one; save me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

We faithful have thee alone, together with God, as our hope which putteth not to shame and our intercession, O Lady. By thy prayers deliver us from every enemy, visible and invisible, from harm and temptations, that we may glorify thee unceasingly.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Beholding the Son whom she had borne without seed nailed upon the Cross, the all-immaculate Mother cried aloud as a mother, and spoke with sobs: What is this new and most glorious and incomprehensible wonder which I behold upon Thee, O my Son?

Ode V, Irmos.

Being the God of peace and the Father of compassions, Thou hast sent unto us Thine Angel of Great Counsel, Who granteth peace. Therefore, being guided unto the light of divine understanding, rising early from the night, we glorify Thee, O Lover of mankind.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Having unsleeping prayer and fervent intercession for thy servants, O Virgin, hasten to meet those afflicted by the calamities of life; snatch them away and save them, lest we be devoured by sorrow and fall into corruption.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

O Mary, dwelling-place of God, I have become a dwelling-place of evil spirits through defiled deeds, foolishly fulfilling their will; through repentance show me to be a dwelling-place of God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Heal us who are grievously sick in soul and body alike through sinful passions, for thou art merciful and the Mother of God. For thou hast given birth unto Christ, the truly great Physician of souls and bodies, the unfailing Fountain of life.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Beholding her Son upon the Tree of the Cross, the all-immaculate one poured forth the anguish of her heart with tears, crying aloud: I am filled with awe at Thy long-suffering, O my Son, beholding a new wonder. Being without sin, how dost Thou endure an unjust death?

Ode VI, Irmos.

The sea monster harmed not the child Jonas, whom it received; so likewise the Word, having dwelt within the Virgin and received flesh, passed through her, preserving her incorrupt. For He Who suffered no corruption preserved her who gave Him birth unharmed.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Thou wast the dwelling-place of the spiritual Myrrh, Who made the whole earth fragrant with the sweet fragrances of Divinity, O most holy Bride of God. Therefore, by the fragrance of thy prayer, utterly destroy the foul stench of my transgressions from my soul.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

The fire of pleasures grievously burneth me, and afflicteth my humbled heart, and unlawfully joineth me unto unseemly deeds. Make haste to quench it, O thou who gavest birth unto the divine Fire, O Bride of God, my salvation.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Deliver us, O all-hymned Virgin, from the assaults of enemies visible and invisible; and preserve, O Mother of God, those who in Orthodox faith confess thee truly to be the Theotokos. For thou art ever mighty, having given birth unto the Creator of all.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Standing by the Cross and beholding her Son hanging in the flesh, the all-immaculate one was inflamed with sorrow in her inward being, and pouring forth tears cried aloud: O Child, truly ineffable unto all mankind is Thy compassion!

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Sedalen, Tone 1.
The undefiled Ewe-Lamb, beholding the Lamb and Shepherd hanging dead upon the Tree, spoke with sobs, crying aloud as a mother: How shall I endure Thy descent beyond speech, O my Son, and Thy voluntary Passion, O most good God?

Ode VII, Irmos.

The youths, nurtured in godly faith, disregarded the ungodly command and feared not the threat of fire; but standing in the midst of the flame, they sang: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

I cannot endure the assaults and tumults of the demons, for the flame of fleshly pleasures darkeneth my mind. But despise me not, O most holy Theotokos, for I have placed my hope in thee.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

O Virgin who knewest not wedlock, most holy Bride of God and Lady, loose by thy prayers the bonds of my transgressions, and join me unto the bond of Christ’s love, that I may bring forth the fruits of virtue.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Thou art the protectress of all who are in the world, a wall unto Christians and a refuge which putteth not to shame, O pure Mary. Therefore, honoring thee with faith, we cry unto Christ: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

The most holy Virgin, beholding her Son hanging upon the Cross, was filled with dread amazement, and said: How shall I endure to behold Thee slain, O Author of life and Giver of life?

Ode VIII, Irmos.

A most great wonder! The furnace prefigured in an image her who giveth dew; for as it received the youths and burned them not, so likewise the divine Fire passed through the Virgin, preserving her pure. Therefore, singing, let us cry: Let all creation bless the Lord, and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.

Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

O Lady of the world, Theotokos, draw me forth by thy mercy, who am submerged in the depths of evils unto destruction, wickedly through fleshly pleasures and attachment to the things of life. For I have no hope of salvation from any quarter, being wholly in despair, O pure one.

Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Thou art the salvation of all men, who gavest birth unto God in an ineffable manner. Thou art the saviour of the faithful, O Theotokos, the guide of the blind and the restoration of the fallen. And praising thee, we cry unto Christ: Bless the Lord, all ye works, hymn Him and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having acquired thee as a most steadfast wall, we have placed upon thee the hope of our salvation, O Mother of God. But be thou unto thy servants a haven and an unconquerable wall, and guide us to cry unceasingly: Let all creation bless the Lord, and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Torn in her mother’s heart and filled with many tears, she who had borne Thee in purity, beholding Thee upon the Cross, cried aloud with inconsolable groanings: Having escaped pain in giving birth unto Thee, O my Son, I am now overcome by pain, beholding Thy countenance dishonored.

Ode IX, Irmos.

Ineffable is the mystery of the Virgin; for she was shown to be heaven, and the cherubic throne, and the light-bearing chamber of Christ God Almighty. Her do we piously magnify as the Theotokos.

Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

I, the wretched one, have defiled my soul with the passions of dishonor, and have wholly polluted my flesh with soul-destroying pleasures. But as thou art pure and undefiled, do thou cleanse me by the multitude of thy mercies.

Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

I have acquired no refuge save thee, O pure one; I know no other steadfast protectress and shelter upon earth, O Lady. Therefore have I fervently fled unto thee, beseeching that through thee I may receive deliverance from my sins.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

O all-hymned one, thou now lookest mercifully from on high upon thy servants, preserving us in godly faith by thy prayers and delivering us from every adversity, who honor thee as the true and pure Theotokos.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Beholding Thee hanging upon the Tree of the Cross, O Lover of mankind, she who knew Thy birth without seed cried aloud, saying: O my Son and God Almighty, desiring to save mankind, Thou hast now accepted crucifixion.

Then at Compline, “It is truly meet,” and the rest as usual, followed by the Dismissal.

8 October 2026